July 29, 2002	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18,1423

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QUETTA, July 28: Balochistan government has abolished the federal levies force in the province and its over 3,500 personnel were inducted into the provincial levies from July 1, Home Secretary Azmat Hanif Orakzai told newsmen on Sunday.

He said the federal levies was established in the colonial period to oblige the tribal heads by inducting their nominated people in it. He said the government had decided to abolish the federal force and induct its members into the provincial levies.

He said the provincial government had decided to reorganize the Balochistan levies and make it an effective force for maintaining law and order and providing security to the people as 95 per cent area of the province came under the jurisdiction of levies.

He said the provincial government had allocated Rs450 million in the current financial year’s budget for the reorganization of the force.

He said the strength of levies force was around 12,500 after the merger and 1,300 more men would be recruited. He said six committees had been set up for the recruitment.

Azmat Orakzai said the provincial levies would be organized in six zones.

He said Shoukat Haidar Changazi had been appointed Balochistan Levies director-general and the zonal directors would be appointed soon.